Mortar attack rocks Baghdad foreign ministry
A mortar explosion has rocked the Iraqi foreign ministry compound in Baghdad.
One bomb landed inside the compound and several others hit the surrounding area, according to reports.
The building is near the Baghdad palace complex where the US-led authorities are based.
Baghdad Police captain Ali Khadim said there were no injuries as a result of the attack.
He said: “One mortar hit inside the compound. There were no casualties.”
The mortar did not hit the building, he said.
However, an Iraqi official told French news agency AFP the blast has created a large hole in the ground and shattered several windows.
Iraqi police and US troops are now guarding the complex and several streets are believed to have been sealed off.
Security in the area was recently tightened following a demonstration by 2,000 former Iraqi intelligence employees demanding their jobs back.
Recent attacks in the Iraqi capital have been aimed at “soft targets” – political and civilian buildings. A bomb at the United Nations headquarters in August killed more than 20 people.
